Cathedral High School graduate excells at soccer academy in England

Delano Brown, in striped shirt at right facing the ball, plays in a soccer match in England, where the Cathedral High School graduate went in August to attend London's Richmond University, which is part of the International Academic and Soccer Academy.

Delano Brown’s heart has pulled him back to his roots.

But Brown’s heart – his passion for playing soccer – also has stayed with a friend and teammate who tragically died much too young.

Brown, who starred at Cathedral High School before graduating in May, is attending London’s Richmond University, which is part of the International Academic and Soccer Academy (IASA). He planned to play soccer for the University of Connecticut before hearing about IASA.

“I was born in England and I’ve always wanted to go back to play soccer,” the 18-year old said. “When I heard about IASA, I researched it and realized it was something I wanted to do.

“It’s a soccer academy with academics. We travel all around England and play youth pro teams. Top coaches train us.”

And those top coaches have been impressed with Brown since he arrived in early August. Head coach Mark Ellis said, “Dai Jones, who works with the England national set-up, picked out Delano straight away and has been very impressed with Delano’s willingness to work hard, desire and his first-class attitude.”

Brown was born in London in 1992. Since his family moved to Springfield in 1996, Brown had never returned to England.

But that changed in August when he flew to London, where he was reacquainted with two aunts, two uncles and five cousins he hadn’t seen since he moved.

Brown needed a week to get adjusted to the change in culture, such as the time zone difference and driving on the opposite side of the road. That adjustment came when Brown and his IASA teammates took to the soccer field.

“I love it so far,” he said. “In England, soccer is a religion. Everything is about soccer. In this environment, I can only get better. I feel that everywhere I go, it’s soccer. Every kid knows the sport and everyone loves the sport. It’s not about baseball, football or anything. Everything is soccer.”

Brown is one of 26 players at the academy, with ages ranging from 18 to 21. IASA has two of its own teams, but the players are allowed to play for certain other organizations as well.

This year’s group has players from Bermuda’s U20 national team, Ghana, and some professionals from Belgium.

“A lot of kids come here to play pro and get signed,” he explained. “There are a lot of kids here who are really good.”

And Brown is one of those kids. In his first four games, playing at forward, he netted three goals.

“I think Delano has settled in really well over here in England, as anybody with a true passion for football should do,” Ellis said. “He has shown a lot of early potential so far and has very good feet and lightning speed. The coaching staff and I are working on Delano’s movement, finishing skills and overall awareness on the field. We hope he can really go forward and develop in the next few months.”

That development will come daily with an emotional reminder of Brown’s good friend Conor Reynolds, who was fatally stabbed March 13. Brown was standing behind Reynolds when his Cathedral soccer teammate was fatally stabbed.

Every time Brown plays soccer, he wears a pair of Reynolds’ cleats. “On the field, I play for him,” Brown said.

And in his heart, Brown never forgets his friend and teammate who died much too young.